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Wednesday, May 23, 2012

It's amore.

I'm not gonna lie. This post will be sappy. It will be Oprah-esque. Hell, Ellen-esque-- who in my opintion is better anyways. No, I'm not going to give away a car or surprise a family with an Extreme Makeover {#iwish}. But what I am going to do my friends is reminiiiiiisce.

Let's rewind back to 1999-ish when I was in a far too Episcopalian school who forced me to wear a sailor outfit and taught me about the book of Job instead of the names of the planets. Speaking of that, I still cannot name them all. Again, I have no shame. ANYWAYS, my teacher sent around a postcard of the Coliseum while learning about Ancient Rome. I was fascinated by it. Fascinated. In fact my major in college was Ancient History with a minor in Latin.

At that moment in 1999, I distinctly remember saying to myself "I WILL go there someday. I WILL have my picture taken inside of the Coliseum." Well luck would have it, four years later in high school I had the opportunity to go on a study abroad trip to Rome, Capri, & Pompeii. I literally cannot type the feeling that I experienced when I was standing inside the Coliseum for the first time. It was like I had actually accomplished something for the first time in my life. Not only that, but it was something that I had set my mind to-- no one else.

OK no more sappiness, I half-promise. During that same trip, our teacher took us to his secret restaurant in Rome with the best pasta & lasagna you will EVER taste. This was in 2003, and I can still remember how good it was. At the time we weren't allowed to drink wine obv, so I can only imagine how much better it would be now. I've been lucky enough to go back to Rome three times over the years, always searching and asking about that dang restaurant. I've emailed old high school friends to see if they remember the subway exit. I've googled my old teacher's name at least 1,000 times. I've trip-advisored to no end. No luck. EVER.

Then fate would have it one day in 2011, I was at 24 hour fitness. What? You were working out? I KNOW, THIS NEVER HAPPENS. Ever. And who the H did I run into??? Our teacher who was the keeper of my forbidden, secret restaurant I had searched years for. You bet your ass the first thing I did was to beg him of the name of my restaurant. We exchanged e-mails. I held my breath. "You've got mail." I've got mail! There she was in all her beauty. Her full name. Her address. Her subway stop.

I HAD FINALLY FOUND HER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Her name is La Vecchia Conca. What a beaut of a name. I shall get red wine & lasagna. I'm a simple girl. I mean, how cool is it that nine years later, I finally get to go to a place I've been searching for for all these years. A place that reminds me of my first accomplishment as a girl/woman.

Pretty special y'all. Pretty special.

Can't wait to blog about all of our adventures this August. So stay tuned. Love you all & make sure you follow your dreams. Because nothing is better than that.